Friday, September 1, 2017

Consumer confidence has remained at a very favorable level, although slipping somewhat from mid-month. The Sentiment Index has been higher
during the first eight months of 2017 than in any year since 2000, which was the peak year of the longest expansion in U.S. history. Given the current
resilience of consumers, temporary increases in gas prices as well as a brief period of weakness in economic growth and employment are unlikely to derail
confidence.